The European Commission remained silent on Tuesday (26 September) when confronted with the news that Spanish authorities had shut down websites that provide information about this weekend’s Catalan independence referendum. A vote that Spain still maintains is illegal.

With four days to go until the October 1 vote, the clash between Catalonia’s pro-separatist government and Madrid is increasingly being played out in the arena of logistics and international opinion.

Police have seized nearly 10 million ballots for the vote and have closed down 59 websites that provide information about the referendum. Another 85 sites are in the process of being closed, judicial sources said.

Faced with these actions, the separatist leaders of the wealthy northeastern Spanish region, home to around 7.5 million people, have accused Madrid of “repression”.

The website of the foundation of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco “remains operational” but not the referendum websites, revealed Catalan government spokesman Jordi Turull.

The central government argues that it is simply applying the constitution, which does not allow this type of referendum, as is the case in neighbouring France and Italy.

The European Commission said it does not have the competence to react.

Asked to comment, Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for digital economy and society, who is also responsible for media oversight, said it was not the Commission’s business to interfere in internal matters of a member state.

The issue quickly became the highlight of the Commission’s midday briefing.

“We don’t have anything to say, other than reiterate our respect for the legal order and the constitutional order within which all these measures have been taken,” Commission chief spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said insisted, replying to an initial question.

After that, Schinas came under fire from the press pool for not reacting to the crackdown on freedom of expression in a member country.

He was reminded that the EU was very vocal in similar cases with other countries, such as Turkey, Russia andCambodia. “Thank you for your positions. We cannot improvise competences we don’t have,” he answered.

The chief prosecutor in Catalonia ordered police to seal off buildings that will house polling stations before the day of the referendum and deploy officers on the day of the vote to prevent ballots from being cast.

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will not attend the Tallinn Digital Summit with other EU leaders on Friday (29 September) because of unrest ahead of a controversial independence vote in Catalonia on Sunday, EURACTIV.com has learned.

He also announced that the crisis would delay the national budget but ruled out fresh elections.

“I’m not thinking about calling early elections as a result of what we were seeing,” he said in Washington.

During a joint news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Washington, Trump said it would be “foolish” for Catalonia not to stay in Spain.

“You’re talking about staying with a truly great, beautiful and very historic country,” he added as Rajoy stood at his side.

Rajoy urged Catalan officials to return to “common sense” even as Madrid stepped up its effort to stop the vote from going ahead.

In Huelva, southwestern Spain, Guardia Civil officers dispatched to Catalonia for the referendum were cheered on by hundreds of locals with cries of “Go for them!” and draped them with Spanish flags.

In Barcelona, residents have been giving out red carnations to regional police.

Spain has deployed two-thirds of its riot police to Catalonia, some 2,000 officers, for the referendum, according to daily newspaper El Pais.

Forcing a referenda by breaching the Spanish Constitution ? That’s Anarchy by separatists to splitt Spains Unity . Pudgemon and other corrupted politicians shall learn a lesson by General Francisco Franco who loves the Unity and brought it back to Spain .
Now Problems beginn again when people are missing .
IBut this time the spanish civil guardian will enter to catalunya and bring the spanish democracy back .